Dnd 3d printer


An artist created 3D models of every D&D monster, and they’re all free

For more than five years, one man has been creating 3D models of every single monster in Dungeons & Dragons’ 5th edition, and giving away those digital files for free, so people with 3D printers can make them at home.

Miguel Zavala’s art project consists of more than 1,900 digital files, and he has nearly 3,000 paying subscribers supporting his work on Patreon. Polygon talked with Zavala about his work, and how (for the most part) he’s been able to avoid the ire of D&D’s publisher, Wizards of the Coast.

Zavala says he studied 3D modeling in college, but after a stint in the advertising industry he left it all behind. That’s until five years ago, when his wife inspired him to make a hobby of creating digital models for his own 3D printer. After getting a good response on Reddit, he started taking commissions for custom figures. Eventually that income became enough to pay the rent, he quit his day job to work at 3D modeling full time.

“I’ve made almost 2,000 models so far” Zavala said, “covering all of the D&D books all the way up to [Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes]. It’s just been a hell of a ride.”

The income from his Patreon, where Zavala still does loads of custom commissions for his patrons and other D&D-adjacent work, now covers well more than just his rent. He also sells printed models of some of his minis online, but says the income from those is nominal at best.

Is the publisher of D&D OK with this? Zavala says it is, now that he’s made some changes to his process.

A demonic alchemist that Zavala designed for one of his patrons.Photo: Miguel Zavala

Five years ago, Zavala says, Wizards actually cracked down on his project. All of his models were pulled offline for a time. That’s because he was using another online platform to host them, and the fine print on that website stated that the platform holder would automatically assume rights to his creations. Wizards didn’t like that, so Zavala switched over to Shapeways, which has different rules for creators, and he was allowed to resume his work.

“I reached out to them,” Zavala said, “and very honestly, it was just like, ‘Hey, I’m not trying to compete with you guys. I’m not trying to do anything like that. It’s just some people don’t have access to game stores, and some folks like to have a little extra creative balance in their games, and I make these things available for free.’ [...] Once they understood that I wasn’t trying to make an easy buck off of this, they immediately opened up.”

Portions of D&D content are available to the public through the Open-Gaming License set up by Wizards. The publisher also has a formal policy on fan-created content. Zavala says he’s careful to follow those rules. All of the files themselves are available for free, and certain monsters — like named characters from D&D lore and other items that fall outside of the OGL — are only available as free digital downloads. You can find them all spread out across two different accounts on Shapeways. The first is called The DM Workshop, and the second is his own personal account.

“Wizards has been in contact with Miguel ‘mz4250’ Zavala,” a spokesperson at Wizards confirmed for Polygon. “He does nice sculpts, and we appreciate the creativity he brings to the hobby! As long as he’s following our Fan Policy and our [Open Game License], we don’t take issue with what he’s doing. D&D always encourages storytellers and creators to share what they are making with the community.”

The very first 3D model that Zavala made more than five years ago. The updated version, created just this year, is at the top of this story.Photo: Miguel Zavala

Wizards has its own officially licensed lines of pre-painted miniatures, which are sold primarily in collectible blind boxes. There’s also a smaller line of unpainted miniatures, but only about 30 models are currently being produced. While they’re all very durable and high quality, there’s really nothing like the variety that Zavala’s free files can offer.

Part of the reason that his work has become so popular is because 3D printers have improved and become cheaper over the last few years. For at-home builds of single miniatures, Zavala recommends something like the Elegoo Mars or the Anycubic Photon, both of which you can find on Amazon for around $250. Zavala isn’t the only one doing work like this either. Other 3D modelers he recommends for D&D minis include Mia Kay and Duncan “Shadow” Luca.

“I’m just going to continue improving my skills and, as the technology changes, I’ll adapt with that,” Zavala says. He’s spending lots of time converting his digital library into new file types that will be useful in virtual reality and augmented reality applications to come.


Elegoo Mars 2 3D printer

Prices taken at time of publishing.

  • $300 at Amazon

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🐲 Collection • 3D files for 3D printing to play Dungeons and Dragons・Cults

🐲 Collection • 3D files for 3D printing to play Dungeons and Dragons

Download 3D files of Dungeons and Dragons

Do you like playing Dungeons and Dragons? Then join us on an adventure to find out where to get the best 3D models and 3D printing files of D&D miniatures and terrain. There's plenty to develop a whole universe, customize your miniatures and embellish your game boards.

Ulvheim building and ruins - A

Free

Fates End - Dice Tower - FREE Wizard Tower!

Free

Guild Mage Redux (32mm scale)

Free

Skeletons! 28mm, no supports.

Free

Beholder - 28mm D&D miniature

Free

Wood Stump

Free

28mm Bar Back and Accessories

Free

Locked Chest

Free

Oni

Free

Purple Worm

Free

Ulvheim Small Merchant House

Free

Wargaming Tree growing on Rocks / Ruin

Free

Tower of Darkness (28mm/Heroic scale)

Free

Lady Knights (multiple poses)

Free

Ghoul

Free

Crystal Cluster

Free

Tresure chest 2.0

Free

Naga Warriors

Free

Cultists (28/32mm scale)

Free

Gloomhaven Captain of the Guard

Free

28mm Fountain of the Alewife

Free

Dice Tower sized for resin printers

Free

Palm Tree

Free

ClickLock building-system

Free

Goblins! 28mm, no supports

Free

Medieval Cottage (15mm scale)

Free

Fey Goddess - Tabletop Miniature

€1. 02

Wolf - Tabletop Miniature

€1.02

Halberdiers! 28mm, no supports

Free

Knight (28mm scale Wrath & Ruin preview model)

Free

Dragonborn Warlord (multiple poses)

Free

Modular arabic style village

Free

Armored Warrior (multiple poses)

Free

Blacksmith Shop for 28mm miniatures gaming

Free

Flesh Mound

Free

ScatterBlocks: Dwarven Statue (Heroic Scale)

Free

Lurching Keep (28mm/32mm scale)

Free

Labyrinth Tower Gift Box Puzzle

€1.53

Gloomhaven Forgotten Circles Monster: Aesther Ashblade

Free

Openlock / Openforge Skull Cave Dungeon Entrance

Free

Skeleton King - Tabletop Miniature

Free

Crystal Set

Free

Barrel and Mimic Barrel

Free

Undead Bone Golem - 28mm Undead

Free

Wood Elf - Tabletop Miniature

Free

Secret Lock Book

Free

Blue Dragon for 28mm Tabletop Roleplay

Free

Tree with Base

Free

Fates End - Dice Tower - FREE Wizard Tower!

All-in-one travel DnD kit

Dice Tower sized for resin printers

Ettin ( Bicephal Giant / Ogre )


Here is our selection of the best 3D printer files to play and customize your Dungeons and Dragons games, all of these creations are from the Cults STL file platform and are very easily 3D printable

Dungeons and Dragons, also known as D&D (or DND), is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) derived from wargames. The original D&D, published in 1974, was designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Like an RPG video game, a game of D&D does not end in one sitting; it continues week after week as players' characters gain experience, skills, and loot!

To get the most out of your games, with this collection of STL files, you'll be able to print even more miniatures and elements for your playground. No matter which version of Dungeons & Dragons you play, you'll be able to print your warriors, dwarves, monks, hordes and other elves!

From now on, thanks to resin-based 3D printers, your miniatures will be very detailed, just like the real thing! All you need to do is to paint them to obtain superb game elements. Another advantage of 3D printing is the customization, you can add your faces, new weapons or make jokes to your friends players. Moreover the 3D printing community is very active regarding those game worlds like Wargames and Dungeons and Dragons, so you will have access to a lot of easily 3D printable models designed by all members.

Choosing the best 3D printer for printing miniatures

3DPrintStory